The Malik Report

Updated with a bit more from Holland at 7:46 PM: Red Wings GM Ken Holland became a U.S. citizen today, but he did so with one foot out the door. With Jim Nill watching over the prospects in Traverse City, Holland headed to his off-season home in Vernon, British Columbia, where the Macomb Daily’s Chuck Pleiness reports that Holland will meet with fellow Vernon off-season resident Chris Osgood to discuss Osgood’s future with the team:

“His initial reaction was he wants to play,” Holland said in a phone interview Tuesday afternoon. “Now he’s gone to Europe and had more time to think. I think the biggest thing is, time has gone by and you really start to decide what your priorities in life really are. I think it’s a good time now to sit down with him and talk about it.”

The two will meet Thursday night in British Columbia, Canada. Osgood, 38, returned Tuesday from a golf trip in Scotland with a number of his teammates. The trip was a gift they got him for recording his 400th career win last year. Holland said he has been texting back and forth with Osgood since he returned.

“We’re going to have a conversation face-to-face,” Holland said. “Sometime on Friday or Saturday, after talking to him, I’ll probably have a decision on what we’re doing.”

As we found out on Monday, the Wings decided to bring back Joey MacDonald as the team’s #3 goaltender, and as we found out this morning, Tomas Vokoun apparently approached the team before choosing to become the Capitals’ #1 goaltender. We know that the Wings have been talking to Ty Conklin as well, but what we don’t know—and what Holland doesn’t know—is what Osgood wants to do:

“We explored (free agentd on) July 1,” Holland said. “We had some interest in some guys and they chose to go elsewhere. We wake up after the dust settles on July 4 or July 5 and obviously Chris Osgood is still a legitimate candidate. It all depends what his thoughts are,” Holland added. “I want to talk to him and see what he’s thinking. That doesn’t mean if he wants the job it’s his job. I want to talk to him. Let’s take one step at a time. Let me talk to him.”

As for Holland’s gut feeling on what he thinks Osgood will say, he doesn’t really know.

“And that’s why I want to sit down with him,” Holland said. “I don’t know that he really knows. If he’s not ready to make a decision, that is a decision I would say,” Holland ended.

Let’s just guess that after all this time, Holland will let Osgood have another week or two to make up his mind if he’s not quite ready, but sooner than later, we’ll finally find out whether Osgood and Kris Draper—who didn’t want to sign a two-way deal and compete for a job during training camp as of a month ago—have futures with the Red Wings’ team or their hockey operations department instead.

Comments

Working for Holland (Wings) must be enjoyable for everyone in the organsation. He just does things the right way all the time. Ossie will have a chance to say what he feels and we will see where KH goes with it. Who knows it might not even include Conklin or Ossie?

Draper might be a tougher topic if he wants one way deal, I think. I think the Stamkos deal when it happens will start a minor frenzy. May be surprises ahead!

The problem I have with the arguments for bringing back Osgood as the backup at this point is that they all seem based on the idea, “What has this person done for the organization in the past?”

I don’t believe that is the correct question to ask in this situation. I believe the correct question to ask is, “What can this person do for the organization in the next 2-3 years?” At this point in their careers, particularly given Osgood’s health issues, I believe that Conklin can provide better answers to that question than Osgood.

As we found out on Monday, the Wings decided to bring back Joey MacDonald as the team’s #3 goaltender, and as we found out this morning, Tomas Vokoun apparently approached the team before choosing to become the Capitals’ #1 goaltender.

That friggin’ breaks my heart. I really wanted Vokoun in a Wings sweater.

As well as Conk Blonk played for the Wings a couple years ago, I’m not sure why everyone sees him as such a big upgrade from Ozzie…..injury issues aside I suppose. Conlin’s 35 now, and his numbers from last year are ugly! Like, brutal. Ozzie, in a backup role, is by far the better goalie, probably even today. As long as there is some kind of assurance on Ozzie’s health, coming from the doctors and not from Ozzie himself (which is tough obviously given how much self-reporting is a part of it) I don’t see how he can’t bring back a DRW legend, who’s been a big mentor for Jimmah.

Lost in all this Conklin talk is how bad he is these days. I say go for someone like Emery (I know I’m throwing out injured goalies here). I bet Joey Mac would be as good as Conklin next year.

i agree with Chet. And i always though the nickname tick-tock made no sense.

Posted by
cowboycoffee
from San Francisco, CA on 07/12/11 at 10:10 PM ET

I sincerely believe that the decision to attempt to be the backup goalie for my Beloved Red Wings is now up to Osgood. Joey MacDonald is much better than many of the backups that have contracts in the NHL. His being available will relieve the great moment in panic that may occur if Osgood has continued groin issues.

Of the unsigned goalies, the only one that interests me is Ray Emery. He is a bone fide NHL starter if he can keep his head on straight and can stay healthy. With Joey Mac in reserve, why not take a shot at him if Osgood decides to retire?

Conklin, throughout his career, has never had good puck control. Almost every shot, he spits out a rebound. He just blocks shots, he does not control the puck. He must have a very strong defense in front of him to be effective.

Doc

PS: Congratulations to Ken Holland on achieving U. S. citizenship.

Posted by
DocF
from Reidsville, NC on 07/12/11 at 10:15 PM ET

He also had a crap blues defense in front of him..

He also has carried teams when needed, circa Fleury 07-08, had a great season the next season with Detroit.

That’s like blaming him for being bad in Columbus.. come on..

I’m torn and would be happy anyway this turns out. If Ozzie’s back, good to have him still around and I assume they’d only bring him back HEALTHY.

If we get Conks, I’m cool with that, not to mention he’s a great fit in the locker room and has an Ozzie-esque “screw the last goal” mentality

And if we pick up Emery, well, we got another bonifide starter.

Only one I’d be mad about is Turco but I really don’t see that happening, especially after his last couple seasons in Dallas and then the Chicago debacle.

Holland has no balls when it comes to veterans. I’m sorry. I love the guy, he’s likely one of the best if not the best gm’s in the league. There is a right way to approach players. But there is also a point of being to soft, and drawing a line. “We appreciate all you’ve done, but we’d like to go in a different direction.” I’m sorry but if Osgood is resigned I guarantee we’ll see something less then ending on a good note. I can’t believe the wings turned down vokoun in favor of other options. Unbelieveable. Your done ozzie. Stop.

While I’m completely with you on this, from what I understand it would have meant placing Jimmy on the back burner, as Vokoun wanted to be #1. Now I’m ok with that, but its not typically how the Wings treat their players, except in the case of Cujo/Hasek. Howie is their guy going forward, and they weren’t going to sign Vokoun and stunt Jimmy’s growth.

Overall, if Holland resigns Ozzie, and makes no other moves, this summer will go down as a dark spot on a very bright GM career, IMO.

Posted by
Hootinani
from the parade following Babs out of town on 07/12/11 at 10:52 PM ET

According to the actual story, things went the opposite way.

Vokoun approached the Wings but he decided to go to Washington instead. It was his call, not Detroit’s.

Holland has no balls when it comes to veterans. I’m sorry. I love the guy, he’s likely one of the best if not the best gm’s in the league. There is a right way to approach players. But there is also a point of being to soft, and drawing a line.

Posted by statelouis26 from Detroit, MI on 07/12/11 at 08:30 PM ET

And yet, that is a big selling point for those players looking at DET as an option who AREN’T nearing the end of their careers. “Stay here, and you’ll be rewarded in the end”. Some teams are content with mercenaries… Detroit however wants the longer committment, and being loyal to Player A at the end of his career is seen by Players B and C, who are maybe in their prime and considering Detroit.

It sometimes *is* maddening, but it’s also just smart management in the big picture. And it works, in the end.

George, I’ve been unable to find a way to PM or e-mail you so here goes. I just found out I’ll be up in T.C. tomorrow for work, and schedules willing thought it would be nice to donate to your trip by buying you a steak dinner or something. Please e-mail me at [George deleted your email address so you don’t get spam edit] and I’ll shoot you my contact info.

Osgood has more intangables, he is just a damn good mentor, and gets along with other goalies. Honestly, who else in the league could split starts with Dom Hasek and have no goalie issues? Only Ozzy. He is unselfish in his approach to the team and has been Howards mentor since day one. I don’t care if he doesnt play a single game because when there is a tough loss in the playoffs I want him in the locker room next to Jim more than I want a few extra wins from conklin.

Posted by
Joe
on 07/13/11 at 12:15 AM ET

Of the unsigned goalies, the only one that interests me is Ray Emery. He is a bone fide NHL starter if he can keep his head on straight and can stay healthy. With Joey Mac in reserve, why not take a shot at him if Osgood decides to retire?

I would love this option. I think it’s easily the best option available.

Detroit however wants the longer committment, and being loyal to Player A at the end of his career is seen by Players B and C, who are maybe in their prime and considering Detroit.

Yes, and they’ve already kept him around past his Best Before date, so what about the guy who’s interested in winning and sees a team that either chooses the aging vet to the detriment of the team, or that toys with the vet and says “hey, maybe we’ll sign you to a two-way contract and you can compete for the 14th forward spot with a kid who’s played 2 NHL games, thereby choosing to either screw a kid out of his chance to play for the Wings or send a 40 year old veteran down to Grand Rapids so his contract doesn’t stay on the Red Wings books and he can technically retire as a Grand Rapids Griffin.

Jimmy doesn’t need a mentor. He needs a capable NHL goalie behind him so he and the team don’t have to worry about him burning out from playing too much.

Great, Ozzie split a season with Hasek. That’s wonderful if Ozzie has shown that he’s capable of playing the way he played in 07-08, and if we were looking for a goalie who could platoon.

I don’t care if he doesnt play a single game because when there is a tough loss in the playoffs I want him in the locker room next to Jim more than I want a few extra wins from conklin.

a) He wasn’t in the locker room beside Jim in the playoffs. At all.
b) You don’t care if he doesn’t play a game? That’s great, let’s have Jimmy burn himself out playing 82 games, lay an egg in the playoffs and lose because Chris F*cking Osgood is the back up they have to lean on..

“Let’s put the Derek Jeter question to bed: There isn’t a player that I’m more proud of in the last 15 years than Derek Jeter,” Selig said. “He has played the game like it should be played. He’s even been a better human being off the field as great as he is on the field. So any concerns that I keep hearing about Derek Jeter, I know why Derek Jeter isn’t here. I respect that. And I must tell you I think I would have made the same decision that Derek Jeter did.

“Derek Jeter has brought to this sport great pride. He’s become a role model. Earned it. Still earning it. And so any suggestion that I, or anybody else, is unhappy with him about not being here is just false.”

“His initial reaction was he wants to play,” Holland said in a phone interview Tuesday afternoon. “Now he’s gone to Europe and had more time to think. I think the biggest thing is, time has gone by and you really start to decide what your priorities in life really are. I think it’s a good time now to sit down with him and talk about it.”

“His initial reaction was he wants to play,” Holland said in a phone interview Tuesday afternoon. “Now he’s gone to Europe and had more time to think. I think the biggest thing is, time has gone by and you really start to decide what your priorities in life really are. I think it’s a good time now to sit down with him and talk about it.”

So…

Osgood: “Ken, I want to play next season”

Holland: “Are you sure you’re healthy?”

Osgood: “Yeah I’m sure, I’m healthy and want to play next season”

Kenny: “Well, why don’t you take a vacation and sit on this thought for a while, eh?”

A couple of weeks later…

Osgood: “Ken, I thought about that real hard, and maybe I can’t guarantee you my health for a full season… Sorry”

I still feel that everything Holland says hints toward Ozzie not returning. I’m sure Ken would be happier if Ozzie made this decision himself. We just have to wait and see. But the waiting is maddening!

Posted by
MsRedWinger
from the State where Tigers roam in the Spring on 07/13/11 at 11:50 AM ET

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